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Recent Orlando Westgate Tour

X

xvshanvxl

TUG Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2005
Messages
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Location
Florida
My family and I recently sat through a tour and sales pitch at Westgate Vacation VIllas in Orlando. We only went for the free disney tickets since we already own all the timeshare we can use and are very happy with what we own. The facility was very nice and our sales person wasn't too pushy. The follow up guy needed a boot to his backside though. The resort was very nice and we would buy there, resale of course, if we were in the market. The asking price for one of the new two bedrooms was 27K.

We didnt get any harrassing phone calls that I know of but then again we unplugged the phone as soon as we got there thanks to the posts on TUG.
 
x,

Isn't that $27,000 price outrageous? $27,000 X 52 weeks is $1.4 million for a unit they probably build for 100K or less.
 
x,

Isn't that $27,000 price outrageous? $27,000 X 52 weeks is $1.4 million for a unit they probably build for 100K or less.

P E H
 
Heck, they've got 2 bedroom units in Vegas going for > $30,000.
 
I think the price was crazy but then again developer prices usually are. Just for fun I looked at the prices on ebay for the older units which they said were being upgraded when I got home (although I'm not really looking to buy). They seem to be selling for a couple thousand.
 
We just returned from a stay at WVV and did not encounter any problems with sales staff. :whoopie:

We arrived after 7pm and no hint of anyone wanting to sign us up for the non-timeshare tour. We got our room assignment, moved into the unit, put up the 'do not disturb' sign and unplugged the phones. No notes on the door and no sales people trolling by the pools.

This is not what we expected after reading the many horror stories about Westgate. It could be that we traded into a two bedroom WVV with a studio unit and we were probably deemed 'not good buying prospects' or maybe we were just lucky and by arriving late and unplugging the phone we avoided all the potential hassles.
 
copper said:
We just returned from a stay at WVV and did not encounter any problems with sales staff. :whoopie:

We arrived after 7pm and no hint of anyone wanting to sign us up for the non-timeshare tour. We got our room assignment, moved into the unit, put up the 'do not disturb' sign and unplugged the phones. No notes on the door and no sales people trolling by the pools.

This is not what we expected after reading the many horror stories about Westgate. It could be that we traded into a two bedroom WVV with a studio unit and we were probably deemed 'not good buying prospects' or maybe we were just lucky and by arriving late and unplugging the phone we avoided all the potential hassles.
Click to expand...

Arriving late and unplugging the phones is our best defense. Apparently the weasels go to bed early and once they do you can sneak in under the radar and just enjoy the resort. What a concept.
 
timeos2 said:
Arriving late and unplugging the phones is our best defense. Apparently the weasels go to bed early and once they do you can sneak in under the radar and just enjoy the resort. What a concept.
Click to expand...
How does Westgate assign units? Does arriving late mean you are more likely to get a less desirable unit and that it will be hard to find a parking space? Or does Westgate generally give you the unit that was deposited? We are going to be staying at Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa in a couple of weeks, and I'm wondering what the best checkin strategy is.
 
If you own there and are going during your assigned week you obviously get your unit.

If you exchange in, they can put you anywhere they want.

When we go to the Lakes we always ask for a building overlooking the Lake because we like to watch the Fireworks from Disney every night. (That's 9PM for DisneyWorld and 10PM for EPCOT). I think Sea World is starting their summer fireworks display today as well.

Sometimes they can accomodate us, sometimes they can't. In our instance the strategy would be to check in early to request a room location. If you arrive late you get what ever is left.

As for parking, there is never enough parking. The later you check in, or the later you get back from a day at the park, or dinner or whatever, the harder it is to find a spot. I think they have exactly one parking spot per unit.

I must agree with the above posts about no sales calls. Always in the past when escorted to my room the rep would set a date for a meeting. I thought it funny this time when she didn't. Didn't unplug the phone and never got a call all week. I own there and that was the only thing I didn't like about the resort. The kinder gentler Westgate?
 
Last edited:
wcfr1 said:
In our instance the strategy would be to check in early to request a room location.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice. We are going on an II Getaway. How early would you consider is optimal? We are actually arriving the night before and staying in a hotel our first night. We don't have any specific plans for Saturday, checkin day, so it would not be a problem to drop by any time. OTOH, I don't want to show up so early as to make a pest out of myself and lesson the likelyhood they would want to accomidate my request.
 
Dave,

As an owner I have checked in as early as 1PM and if a room was available I got it. If it wasn't available they gave me a pager and it wnet off when the room was ready. Reminded me of the lines at Outback Steakhouse.

Not sure about an II certificate. I have heard that those checking in with an II certificate have to wait for the standard 4 PM check in. Never experienced that myself, just rumor.

Don't bother calling and asking them either. Standard line over the phone for all persons is 4PM.

I would just try and get there early and see what happens. Worse that could happen is you have to hang out by the pool for a couple hours.
 
Thanks

Now I feel so much better. I bought from the developer 8 years ago for $6K at Westgate Vacation Villas. It is the 2 bedroom with the loft. I have been very happy but of course I have seen the same units for less than half what I paid. But at least I didnt take a $15K hit like so many people do.

I have complained to the management about the sales staff as an owner and how it give Westgate such a bad name. It sounds like they werent as bad as some of the horror stories.
 
I bought on my westgate tour just the past Feb,a bienniel, 2 bedroom grande, apparently a penthouse lock-off in the new building Westgate Town Centre and my son bought the other year, combined we paid $19,600.00 US. I think they charge different prices for different people, they get you when you are tired and the kids are going crazy and cranky. I think they are the most unscrupulous sales people I have ever met, even the carny's at the local Lobster Carnival and Fair are as scummy as these people. I felt like I had been taken for a fool for a long time because nothing I said to the Westgate people could let me rescind past the 10 day period, I contacted them when we got home from Florida on the the 13th day. I wish now I had thought it through but I plan on using the time share and hoping I wont feel as bad when we actually get to stay in ours next year. It is only money, I am so ashamed of my mistake that I haven't told any of my friends that we bought one. Maybe that will change as time goes on and we enjoy or vacations and have a good experience at Westgate.
 
Breezyone said:
I bought on my westgate tour just the past Feb,a bienniel, 2 bedroom grande, apparently a penthouse lock-off in the new building Westgate Town Centre and my son bought the other year, combined we paid $19,600.00 US. I think they charge different prices for different people, they get you when you are tired and the kids are going crazy and cranky. I think they are the most unscrupulous sales people I have ever met, even the carny's at the local Lobster Carnival and Fair are as scummy as these people. I felt like I had been taken for a fool for a long time because nothing I said to the Westgate people could let me rescind past the 10 day period, I contacted them when we got home from Florida on the the 13th day. I wish now I had thought it through but I plan on using the time share and hoping I wont feel as bad when we actually get to stay in ours next year. It is only money, I am so ashamed of my mistake that I haven't told any of my friends that we bought one. Maybe that will change as time goes on and we enjoy or vacations and have a good experience at Westgate.
Click to expand...

Please don't feel so badly about yourself. Believe me, many, many people here on TUG have bought from the developers as well.

The key now is to enjoy what you have. Learn as much as possible about maximizing your possibilities and enjoy it. For one thing, you did well getting a lock out. Right there you have gotten yourself two weeks of vacation.

Keep reading here on TUG and quit kicking yourself. Soon you will be able to enjoy your purchase and even tell your friends. ;)
 
Enter a group and introduce yourself!
Hello my name is ______ and I am a timeshareaholic. I recently spent ______ when a developer offered me a fix! I am now ashamed that I did not have more self control. It looked so inviting. It was going to solve all of my problems, allow me many vacation highs and also allow great family time!

Hi ______, welcome to the group. We understand your pain as we have all been there. We are now on methadone, oops, I mean tug! Funtime:wave:
 
Just got back from our stay at Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa. I never bothered to unplug the phone, and we never got a call. There were a number of broadcast voice messages, 1-2 per day, announcing resort activities and special offers at the restaurant or jewelry store. These were just dumped in the voice mail so the phone never actually rang. When we were checking in, the rep that took us to our room insisted we needed to sign up for a sales presentation, which included a free meal and a $100 voucher for the Smokehouse Grill, in order to get the temporary card giving us access to the on-site amenities. I signed up for Friday since they don't schedule them on Saturday. I was expecting a slew of calls after we no showed, but no calls ever came. Other than the pool, we never used any on-site amenities so I can't comment how important it was to have the card.
 
funtime said:
Enter a group and introduce yourself!
Hello my name is ______ and I am a timeshareaholic. I recently spent ______ when a developer offered me a fix! I am now ashamed that I did not have more self control. It looked so inviting. It was going to solve all of my problems, allow me many vacation highs and also allow great family time!

Hi ______, welcome to the group. We understand your pain as we have all been there. We are now on methadone, oops, I mean tug! Funtime:wave:
Click to expand...

Too funny! Thanks for the giggle.
 
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